The climate here in KwaZulu Natal is subtropical, and we are fortunate at least to have two avocado trees in our garden, which bear fruit every year, some years just a few pears, other years an abundance – we can supply the family and neighbours in these times of abundance! 2018 is a leaner year for our avos. Avocados are one of the best foods in terms of nutrients offering almost 20 vitamins and minerals which, amongst other benefits, helps to control blood pressure, cell repair, lutein for eyesight, great during pregnancy, helps fight off disease and infection, great source of Vitmain C and E, and natural plant chemicals which help prevent cancer. They are low in sugar and contain fiber so you feel full longer.
Our herbs grow well, lots of basil and mint, and we're even attempting some cannabis plants. Boiling the leaves and stalks with coconut oil makes a tea which helps insomnia (add a spoon of honey to improve the taste). All these herbs also have fantastic health properties for fighting against disease, cancer, viruses, infections, depression, and they promote healthy hearts and combat stress. If I develop a cough, chewing mint and basil brings relief.
We use the herbs in most of our food – salads, veggies, added to meat dishes, even with our cooked breakfasts.
About 18 months back we invested in a shadecloth tunnel, which is weather and monkeyproof. We dug up the soil, added compost, and planted various seasonal veggies – but not much success. Fruit trees are doing well in the tunnel – paw paws and lemons – and lots of chillies. No luck with potatoes, beans or tomatoes though. Unfortunately it doesn't get enough sun as there is a huge Natal Mahogany tree blocking the sun, and to move the tunnel to another part of the garden is a bit risky in terms of theft – we don't want to encourage stragglers to come snooping around in the night, which is one of the problems we have to contend with as we don't have high fences or security gates – these would stop the small buck and guinea fowl from wandering in and out of the garden.
Our attempt at having a few hens was also a disaster – we started of with 11 hens and 2 roosters, but after a few months were left with one rooster and one hen who graciously gave us 2 eggs a day. The others were killed at different times by a mongoose which managed to get at them through the wire. The surviving rooster and hen, which had become our pets and wandered in and out of the house, undeterred by the 3 dogs and 2 cats, were given to a friend 2 weeks ago, as a neighbour complained about the crowing at 4am every morning! We live in a suburb where there are bylaws about livestock.
It is our dream to move to a smallholding where we can have chickens and grow more veggies etc, but the political climate is a bit unsettled right now, with land expropriation, violent crime against farmers, and our economy is still weak.
https://www.mannabase.com/?ref=9faee08e5c
Thanks for reading, love and blessings
(All my own photos, except the monkey from Pixabay, can you believe it? I'm surrounded by monkeys, at home and at school, yet I don't have a single photo!)